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From the Executive Director
Plans to Move, Off-site Screening Clinics and EMR Implemented
We have much to be proud of for our efforts during the first half of 2018. We are also grateful for everyone who helped! From our staff to the Board of Directors, from volunteer health providers and collaborators to our grantors and donors, from community volunteers and event sponsors to the Archdiocese and the City of Santa Fe -- we couldn't have done it without you!
The VTCC Board unanimously voted to move the clinic to the 1700 block of Hopewell Street in collaboration with the City of Santa Fe Housing Authority who will plan, develop and construct two buildings, one for VTCC and the other for PMS. The Hopewell Street construction project has received final zoning approval by the City of Santa Fe and the initial construction bids are in the range that were expected by the Santa Fe Housing Authority. Assuming fundraising and financing goals are achieved, demolition of existing buildings and the beginning of new construction should begin in late 2018 or early 2019 with completion in 2020. Currently Ed Romero, Director of Santa Fe Housing Authority, Tom Gifford of TGA, and I are asking for input on the architectural building plans from the staff and volunteer medical and dental providers.
Please read the story below about our first off-site screening clinic at San Isidro Catholic Church on June 3. Thank you to Fr. John Cannon, pastor; Maggie Montoya; Angela Martinez and especially Sr. Juanita Gonzales, SC for welcoming us to San Isidro and helping us to make it a successful outreach. We have two more off-site screenings already scheduled. We will be at St. Anne Catholic Church located at 511 Alicia Street on Sunday, August 5 from 8:30 am to 12 pm. And on Sunday, September 16 we will be at Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe located at 9 Grazing Elk Drive in Pojoaque, from 9 am to 12 pm.
The staff and Board of Directors would like to thank Dr. Sue Katz for serving over 25 years as the Medical Director of the clinic. Dr Katz began volunteering at VTCC shortly after she arrived in Santa Fe in 1990. As medical director she was consulted on all medical clinical matters, safety issues and served on the quality assurance committee. Dr. Katz resigned this spring as medical director, but will still be volunteering for sick and well child clinics at VTCC. Board member Rafael Garabis, MD is the clinic's interim medical director.
We have implemented electronic medical records (EMR) that we receive free from athenagives, a program of Athena Health. This will improve our record keeping processes, tracking of outcomes, and filing reports. In addition, this program (at no cost to the clinic) will automatically send a text reminder to patients about their appointments as well as conducting follow-up calls when a patient cancels or does not show up at an appointment.
Students at Santa Fe Community College in the dental assistant program will be doing a rotation at the clinic assisting the volunteer dentists or the dental staff. Thank you to board member Dr. Aamna Nayyar for helping to coordinate the program between VTCC and SFCC. In addition, we are collaborating with New Mexico Lions Operation Kidsight, Inc. to provide annual eye screenings, follow-up exams and any necessary treatment for children.
New Mexico Children's Foundation has awarded a $4,000 grant to the clinic for children's medical and dental care. We are preparing for a site visit from the Con Alma Health Foundation for their Technical Assistance Grant for IT support.
We are proud of the growth we have made and don't take your support and prayers for Villa Therese Catholic Clinic for granted!
Sincerely,
Victoria
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News from the Board of Directors
Our gratitude to Jill Cook, Jim Coogan and Cynthia Lackner
The Board has accepted the resignations of Jill Cook, Jim Coogan and Cynthia Lackner and is very grateful for their service on VTCC's Board of Directors. Jill had been involved with the December fundraiser for many years and last year chaired the event. She also served on the Personnel and Community Relations & Development committees.
Jim had been on the Board for ten years and served on the Executive Committee, as assistant treasurer and later treasurer here he was instrumental in improving the clinic's investment policy. From counting flowers at "o'dark-thirty" in the morning assuring the geranium delivery was accurate to soliciting hundreds of donations for silent auctions over the ten years, Jim always lent a helping hand for every fundraiser. We are grateful for his common sense approach to Board oversight of the clinic and his loyalty to its mission.
Cynthia joined the Board in 2010 and has worked on or chaired the following committees: Development (chairing both the Geranium Sale and Calcutta fundraisers), Governance, Personnel, Finance and Executive. She also was the Vice Chair before serving as Chair for four years and leading the clinic as interim executive director for nearly a year. Cynthia's executive skills, optimism and logical approach in leadership (just about everything can be explained with an EXCEL spreadsheet!) were a valuable asset to VTCC.
The 2018 Board of Directors includes: Archbishop John C. Wester, President; Ron Aldrich, chair; Kathy Armijo-Etre, vice chair; Debra Beeson, MD, corporate secretary; Fr. Larry Brito; Wade Carlson; Rafael Garabis, MD; Emelda Martinez, RN; Peter Bastone; Mary Jo Metzger; Aamna Nayyar, DDS; Tendai Shereni; and, Steve Turner. In addition to the six standing board committees (Executive, Finance, Community Relations & Development, Governance, Personnel, and Quality Assurance), the Board has two ad hoc committees: Business Plan & Facilities Development and Clinical Practices & Scope of Services.
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Outreach at San Isidro Catholic Church
First Off-Site Screening Clinic
After attending mass at San Isidro Catholic Church, 35 people stopped by VTCC's Screening Clinic in nearby church classrooms to look after their medical, dental and vision concerns. VTCC held their first off-site screening clinic on Sunday, June 3 at the parish. The response at San Isidro indicates the importance of this type of outreach.
"We had a great turn out," Dr. Brandon Cera, DDS, said. "The screening gave the patients a chance to sit down and comfortably speak with medical, dental and vision professionals about their health and their concerns." Dr. Cera is the dental director for VTCC and volunteered his time at the screening.
If follow-up was needed, appointments were made at VTCC. In the weeks following the Screening Clinic, 28 patients were seen for follow-up appointments which included six appointments for medical concerns, 12 appointments for dental, and 14 for vision.
Joseph Fammartino, MD is an ophthalmologist who also volunteered at the Screening Clinic and for follow-up appointments. "My goal," Dr. Fammartino said, "is to provide outreach, screening and education about diabetic eye disease. It is a leading cause of visual loss and is preventable and treatable. It was encouraging to see diabetic patients come to their follow-up appointment at Villa Therese for a dilated exam."
This important VTCC outreach in our community was planned and coordinated by Aurora Trujillo, Mission & Community Health Fellow at CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center. The CHRISTUS Equity of Care funding paid for expenses.
Many thanks to all our volunteers who helped at San Isidro including Drs. Cera and Fammartino, Ron Romero, DDS; Jane Haher, MD; Kaleigh Cera, FNP-BC; the Qualified Bilingual Staff program at CHRISTUS St. Vincent's; Claudia Gallegos, DA; Ana Beltran, Cathy Catanach, VTCC receptionist; VTCC board members Ron Aldrich, Kathy Armijo-Etre, Emelda Martinez and Steve Turner; and Victoria Otero, VTCC Executive Director.
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Future VTCC Off-Site Screening Clinics
Sunday, August 5 at St. Anne Catholic Church
511 Alicia Street, Santa Fe
8:30 am to 12 pm
Sunday, September 16 at Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe
9 Grazing Elk Drive, Pojoaque
9 am to 12 pm
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Got Shots?
Immunize Your Child in Time for School!
Villa Therese Catholic Clinic will be holding a vaccination clinic on Monday, July 30 from 8 am to 7 pm in conjunction with the New Mexico Immunization Coalition. Please bring your child's shot record, and your Centennial Care (Medicaid) card or private insurance card (if available). Vaccines are free for children through 18 years of age. For other clinic locations participating in Got Shots, go to immunizenm.org.
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Pack-2-School
Starting the School Year
Thursday, August 2 is the day we invest in assuring that children are prepared for the upcoming school year. A backpack and necessary school supplies will help students and their families and result in improving students in their academic career.
Over 150 backpacks will be ready to go when families arrive. Through the generosity of the program's supporters and donors at the December fundraiser, students will receive a backpack and a gift card to buy school supplies. In addition, the Shoes-for-Kids progam from the Santa Fe Del Sur Rotary Club have donated 50 vouchers for students to get a new pair of shoes and a pack of socks from Pay-Less Shoes for the first day of school!
Thank you to the Pack-2-School committee: board members Debra Beeson, MD, Mary Jo Metzger and Steve Turner with Victoria Otero, executive director and VTCC staff Margie Montoya and Cathy Catanach. Thank you also to volunteers: Erica and Jennifer Diaz, Claudia Gallegos, Becky Herrera, Bella Lucero, Louisa Montoya, Olivia and Steve Newfield, Evelyn Otero, Bea Rangel and Lucresia Valencia.
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